Who are the convicted Swedes?

The two convicted in the case of the terrorist attack in Hellerup are two Swedish citizens who were 18 and 21 years old at the time of the sentencing. Although their names are protected by a name ban in parts of the public, it has been established through the investigation that they acted on behalf of or in collaboration with a Swedish criminal network. This network is believed to have connections to a Middle Eastern terrorist organization that has orchestrated attacks against Israeli interests in Europe. The two young men traveled from Sweden to Denmark specifically with the aim of carrying out the attack against the diplomatic representation.

What happened in Hellerup?

On October 2, 2024, the peaceful embassy district in Hellerup was shaken by two powerful explosions. The two perpetrators had brought a total of five hand grenades to the area near Israel's embassy . When they arrived at the target, they threw two of the grenades. However, the grenades did not hit the embassy building itself but instead landed near a nearby residential property. The explosions caused significant material damage to the property, but miraculously, no individuals were physically harmed, despite residents being in the building and soldiers from the Danish army guarding the embassy nearby.

The investigation and arrest

The investigation was led by the Copenhagen Police in close collaboration with the Police Intelligence Service (PET). Through surveillance footage, telelogging, and technical traces at the crime scene, it was quickly possible to identify the two Swedish citizens. The prosecution presented evidence that the attack was carefully planned and executed in agreement with unknown accomplices. It emerged during the case that the two men were part of a larger wave of tasks where Swedish criminals were hired to carry out violent actions in Denmark, often managed via encrypted messaging services.

The trial and basis for the verdict

The trial at Copenhagen City Court lasted over six court days from November 2025 to February 2026. The case was conducted as a jury trial, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter. The prosecutor emphasized that the attack fell under the terrorism paragraph, as the purpose was to severely intimidate the Danish and Israeli populations and to destabilize governmental structures. The judges and jurors were divided in their perception of the terrorism provision, but a majority found it proven that it was indeed terrorism and attempted murder. The 21-year-old was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while the 18-year-old received a sentence of 12 years in prison. Both were permanently expelled from Denmark.

Documentaries and podcasts about the case

The case has been the subject of extensive coverage in Danish and international media. Among the most in-depth reviews are episodes in the podcast Mørkeland and DR's 'Genstart', which have highlighted the increasing trend of Swedish 'child soldiers' in Danish crime. Additionally, TV2 has documented the criminal network's connections across the Øresund in the documentary series 'The Swedish Connection'.

Sources

• Copenhagen City Court - Verdict in terrorism case
• Police Intelligence Service (PET) - Annual report
• Ritzau - Two Swedes convicted of terrorism